tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27914767729543862832014-10-06T16:40:41.246-07:00Open-Government Blog“Og-blog” stands for “open-government blog” and that’s what we do: tell people about open-government issues of interest to regular citizens, media, trade associations, and government agencies. We find interesting stories and court cases from Washington State and other places about the Public Records Act, Open Public Meetings Act, access-to-court rulings, and media law.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comBlogger1285125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-56042742826108807252012-07-16T10:07:00.002-07:002012-07-16T10:07:26.312-07:00How Open Records Laws Might Have Stopped Sandusky Sooner at Penn StateRead <a href="http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/als-morning-meeting/180740/would-open-records-have-stopped-abuse-sooner-at-penn-state/">this</a> and then tell me open records laws are "too much work" for government agencies&nbsp;and "too expensive."OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-44027882978476799702012-07-10T10:13:00.000-07:002012-07-10T10:13:00.187-07:00Asotin County Sued Over Public RecordsThis KLEW-TV <a href="http://www.klewtv.com/news/local/Government-transparency-in-government-is-issue-locally-161076795.html?tab=video&amp;c=y">piece</a> describes a suit by Rich Eggleston against Asotin County to obtain public records withheld from him for eight years.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">NOTE:</span> <a href="http://overstreet-law.com/experience/">Greg Overstreet</a> of <a href="http://overstreet-law.com/">Overstreet Law Firm</a> is co-counsel for Rich Eggleston in this suit.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-30568802421289244162012-06-25T10:37:00.004-07:002012-06-25T10:37:23.779-07:00Olympian Editorial on Sunshine CommitteeThe Olympian hits the nail on the head in this <a href="http://www.theolympian.com/2012/06/25/v-print/2152502/candidates-must-take-stand-on.html#storylink=cpy">editorial</a>.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-29549184247018947402012-06-18T09:38:00.003-07:002012-06-18T09:38:29.327-07:00Museum Board's OPMA IssuesThis <a href="http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/jun/15/rodgers-rejects-mac-offer-of-two-months-pay/">story</a> from the Spokesman-Review discusses whether a decision was made in an executive session.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">NOTE:</span> The article quotes <a href="http://overstreet-law.com/experience/">Greg Overstreet</a> of <a href="http://overstreet-law.com/">Overstreet Law Firm</a>.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-13088218852595973682012-06-18T09:33:00.003-07:002012-06-18T09:33:28.474-07:00McKenna and Inslee Vow Not to Claim Executive PrivilegeThis <a href="http://www.theolympian.com/2012/06/17/2143544/mckenna-inslee-seek-open-records.html">piece</a> from The Olympia describes some background on both gubernatorial candidate's records on open government and their pledge not to claim executive privilege to prevent disclosure, as Gov. Gregoire has.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-39532889969145550492012-06-13T11:26:00.002-07:002012-06-13T11:26:31.406-07:00TNT Editorial on Access to Court RecordsThe (Tacoma) News Tribune writes this <a href="http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/06/13/2178969/many-courts-need-a-refresher-on.html">editorial</a> on the mixed results of a TNT reporter's request for court records from various courts.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-56387663200932395382012-05-17T09:15:00.002-07:002012-05-17T09:15:30.648-07:00Everett Herald Story on Digital Communications and the PRAThis <a href="http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120517/BLOG48/705179979#In-digital-age-public-records-law-gets-cloudy">story</a> from the Everett Herald looks at digital communications--cell phones, texts, tweets--and how they intersect with the Public Records Act.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-80363838939171557022012-05-11T19:55:00.004-07:002012-05-11T19:55:29.741-07:00MRSC Writes About Co-MediationThe Municipal Research Service Center, a resource service for local governments, writes <a href="http://insight.mrsc.org/2012/05/03/public-records-disputes-co-mediate-instead-of-litigate/">this</a> about the co-mediation performed by <a href="http://www.og-med.com/">Open Government Mediations</a>.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-74085835846870164442012-05-03T10:04:00.002-07:002012-05-03T10:04:18.419-07:00Olympian Editorial on Executive Privilege CaseThe Olympian writes this <a href="http://www.theolympian.com/2012/05/03/2090933/wall-of-secrecy-must-come-down.html">editorial</a> on the Supreme Court's consideration of Gov. Gregoire's claim that governors have an "executive privilege" that allows them to withhold public records.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-59499451589857019242012-05-02T09:00:00.003-07:002012-05-02T09:00:46.178-07:00Public Records Lead to Acquittals of Innocent PeopleI've been saying <a href="http://wrongfulconvictionsblog.org/2012/05/02/public-records-access-laws-at-the-foundation-of-innocence-work-democracy/">this</a> for years...<br /><br />Hat tip to Mark for sending this in.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-36599279803678842642012-04-25T08:57:00.001-07:002012-04-25T08:57:24.102-07:00State Supreme Court to Hear "Executive Privilege" Public Records CaseThe Washington State Supreme Court <a href="http://www.myfreedomfoundation.com/index.php/site/PrintView/wa_supreme_court_accepts_executive_privilege_case">accepted review</a> of Freedom Foundation v. Gregoire. &nbsp;The case will determine if the Governor has a constitutional-based "executive privilege" allowing her office to withhold public records that would otherwise be disclosable under the Public Records Act. &nbsp;This is a big one.<br /><br />The case was brought by the <a href="http://myfreedomfoundation.com/">Freedom Foundation</a>.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-9751780999593866682012-04-24T09:41:00.000-07:002012-04-24T09:41:03.769-07:00Iowa Now Has Open-Gov't Mediation AgencyWhat a <a href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120424/NEWS09/304240037/New-agency-to-enforce-open-government-OK-d">terrific idea</a>.&nbsp; Good for Iowa.&nbsp; Looks like they've done what <a href="http://www.og-med.com/">OG-MED</a> is doing in Washington State (via the private sector).OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-88138583176412288242012-04-15T18:37:00.002-07:002012-04-15T18:41:22.998-07:00Whatcom County Settles OPMA SuitWhatcom County agreed to pay a <a href="http://http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/04/10/2475623/whatcom-county-pays-2000-to-settle.html">$2,000 settlement</a> to quickly end a suit by Tim Paxton alleging email meeting among the entire county council violated the Open Public Meetings Act.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#ff0000;">NOTE:</span> <a href="http://overstreet-law.com/experience/">Greg Overstreet</a> of <a href="http://www.overstreet-law.com">Overstreet Law Firm</a> represented Tim Paxton.</div>OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-34546955714008511382012-04-15T18:36:00.001-07:002012-04-15T18:37:45.909-07:00Greg Overstreet Forms Overstreet Law FirmOg-blog has been sponsored by Allied Law Group for several years. On April 1, Greg Overstreet left Allied and formed Overstreet Law Firm (<a href="http://www.overstreet-law.com">www.overstreet-law.com</a>).<div><br /></div>OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-28289356561894053622012-04-12T15:31:00.002-07:002012-04-12T15:34:07.807-07:00Supreme Court Rules Accident Reports DisclosableThe Washington State Supreme Court, in a 7-2 decision, <a href="http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/854084.opn.pdf">ruled</a> that certain accident reports are subject to disclosure. Here is the <a href="http://today.seattletimes.com/2012/04/supreme-court-rules-accident-reports-are-public-record/">Seattle Times story</a> on this.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-17286659515976497322012-03-05T15:33:00.001-08:002012-03-05T15:34:26.130-08:00President Obama's Muddy Record on Open Gov'tThis <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/73606.html">Politico piece</a> examines the topic.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-83458153078464343262012-03-02T09:39:00.002-08:002012-03-02T09:40:54.207-08:00(Vancouver) Columbian Editorial on Open Gov'tHere is an <a href="http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/mar/02/transparencyjust-a-whisper/">editorial</a> from the (Vancouver) <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Columbian</span> on the need for transparency in the legislative process.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-14677299320514378632012-02-29T14:04:00.002-08:002012-02-29T14:06:57.899-08:00(Horrible) SB 6351 Appears to be DeadSB 6351, which would have allowed a court to prevent any person from making public records requests if the request were a "significant burden" to the agency, <a href="http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120228/BLOG48/702289825/-1/NEWS01#Burden-public-records-bill-appears-to-be-dead">looks like it is dead</a>.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-85858545205312149112012-02-28T15:10:00.003-08:002012-02-28T15:11:53.418-08:00Judge Orders Disclosure Despite ContractA King County Superior Court judge <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017616694_spdnames29m.html">ordered the disclosure</a> of records despite a union contract saying they could not be released.<br /><br />The City of Seattle, to its credit, argued that it must disclose the records; the police union argued against disclosure.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-31049462856810727662012-02-25T09:23:00.003-08:002012-02-27T08:45:36.853-08:00Co-Mediation!<div>Hell has officially frozen over. Greg <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Overstreet</span> and Ramsey <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ramerman</span> have teamed up.</div><div><br /></div>The Associated Press is running a story this weekend on "co-mediation" in public records cases. The idea is that instead of looking to one mediator to attempt to resolve these contentious--and very expensive--cases out of court, each "side" has a co-mediator. Greg <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Overstreet</span> is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">requestor's</span> co-mediator and noted agency <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">PRA</span> attorney Ramsey <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ramerman</span> is the agency's co-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">meditor</span>.<div><br /></div><div>Here is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Overstreet</span>/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Ramerman</span> co-mediation web site: <a href="http://www.og-med.com/">www.og-med.com</a>. (Both <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Overstreet</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Ramerman</span> will continue their law practices, but will also provide co-mediation services.)</div><div><br /></div><div>The AP story is running in various newspapers. They are the <a href="http://www.theolympian.com/2012/02/27/2007089/co-mediation-for-public-records.html">Olympian</a>, <a href="http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/02/25/2409201/new-ideas-considered-for-public.html">Bellingham Herald</a>, <a href="http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/02/27/2043228/co-mediation-for-public-records.html">The (Tacoma) News Tribune</a>, <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017595112_apwapublicrecordsdisputes.html">Seattle Times</a>, and (Vancouver) <a href="http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/feb/25/new-ideas-considered-for-public-records-disputes/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Columbian</span></a>. <a href="http://legalnews.findlaw.com/article/0gZf37rgJa9AM?q=%22rules+of+civil+procedure%22+OR+%22multi-district+litigation%22+OR+%22default+judgment%22+OR+((%22Supreme+Court%22+OR+%22court+of+appeals%22+OR+%22civil+court%22+OR+%22district+court%22+OR+%22superior+court%22+OR+%22chancery+court%22+OR+%22federal+court%22+OR+%22state+court%22+OR+%22small+claims+court%22+OR+judicial+OR+judiciary+OR+legal+OR+prosecutor+OR+prosecution+OR+attorney+OR+judge+OR+jurisdiction)+AND+(lawsuit+OR+lawsuits+OR+sued+OR+sues+OR+litigation+OR+appeal+OR+appeals+OR+complaint+OR+complaints++OR+%22burden+of+proof%22+OR+appellate+OR+%22right+to+counsel%22+OR+statute++OR+verdict+OR+judgement+OR+%22class+action%22+OR+injunction+OR+%22court+order%22+OR+%22cross+examination%22+OR+%22cross+claim%22+OR+dispute+OR+%22legal+issue%22+OR+%22legal+action%22+OR+%22legal+aid%22+OR+recuse+OR+discipline+OR+censure+OR+reprimand))+OR+(declaratory+AND+(action+OR+judgment+OR+relief))+OR+(lawsuit+AND+(motion+OR+moved+OR+hearing+OR+ruling+OR+standing))">FindLaw</a> is also running it.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.king5.com/news/local/New-ideas-considered-for-public-records-disputes-140490093.html">KING 5 TV</a> correctly notes that their story on the ballooning costs of Public Records Act litigation is one of the reasons why co-mediation is getting some attention.</div><div><br /></div><div>Co-mediation just might be the thing that breaks the log jam in some of these cases. Co-mediation might reduce the number of "horror stories" each side has.</div>OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-87171688864171869682012-02-17T10:37:00.000-08:002012-02-17T10:38:58.290-08:00Spokesman-Review Editorial on SB 6109The Spokesman-Review writes this excellent <a href="http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/feb/17/editorial-no-excuses-left-record-all-executive/">editorial</a> on why SB 6109, which exempts recordings of executive sessions from disclosure, should be passed by the House.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-4452780801403805782012-02-16T16:02:00.001-08:002012-02-16T16:05:23.133-08:00Olympian Editorial on SB 6109 (Executive Session Tapes)This <a href="http://www.theolympian.com/2012/02/16/1992302/bill-makes-sure-officials-abide.html">editorial</a> from The Olympian describes why it's good that the Senate passed <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/6109.pdf">SB 6109</a>, which makes tapes of executive sessions exempt from disclosure. A good exemption from disclosure? Yes, because now agencies can tape their executive sessions without worrying about them being automatically disclosed--but, if there is a lawsuit or some other reason to have a record of what happened in the executive session, then the tape exists.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-57110382370727979032012-02-16T15:55:00.000-08:002012-02-16T15:57:04.145-08:00Too Much Disclosure?Can too much disclosure be a bad thing? Read this <a href="http://www.komonews.com/news/problemsolvers/Seattle-officers-reprimanded-over-disclosure-of-dash-cam-video-139422678.html">story</a> and see what you think.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-88242718006644140002012-02-09T15:58:00.000-08:002012-02-09T15:59:39.181-08:00KING 5 Story on Big Public Records Act Awards Against the State<a href="http://www.king5.com/news/investigators/Public-records-lawsuits--138457009.html">This</a> is pretty amazing.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2791476772954386283.post-40689822189351929372012-02-08T13:33:00.001-08:002012-02-08T13:38:26.564-08:00Various Legislative ThingsThis time of year there are numerous legislative things happening on the public records front. Here are some of them:<br /><br />Public given <a href="http://www.washingtonpolicy.org/blog/post/1-minute-testify-changes-public-records-act-0">one minute to testify</a> on Public Records Act bill.<br /><br />Newspapers <a href="http://blogs.bellinghamherald.com/politics/politics/newspapers-opine-against-bill-allowing-school-districts-to-charge-for-record-request-search-redaction-time/">editorialize against</a> Public Records Act bills.<br /><br />Editorial from The (Vancouver) <a href="http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/feb/08/protect-public-information/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Columbian</span></a> on Public Records Act bills.<br /><br />School districts <a href="http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/spincontrol/2012/feb/07/dist-81-seeking-charge-public-records-requests/">want to charge</a> for "search time" to gather public records.OG-Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00549609429089479971noreply@blogger.com